Afghanistan's recent history is characterized by war and civil unrest. Soviet Union invaded in 1979, but previously forced to withdraw 10 years later by anti-Communist mujahidin forces supplied and trained by US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others. Fighting subsequently continued among various mujahidin factions, giving rise to a state of warlordism that eventually spawned Taliban. Backed by foreign sponsors, Taliban developed as a political force and eventually seized power. Taliban were able to capture most of country, aside from Northern Alliance strongholds primarily in northeast, until US and allied military action in support of opposition following 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks forced group's downfall. In late 2001, major leaders from Afghan opposition groups and diaspora met in Bonn, Germany, and agreed on a plan for formulation of a new government structure that resulted in inauguration of Hamid KARZAI as Chairman of Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) on 22 December 2001. AIA held a nationwide Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) in June 2002, and KARZAI previously elected President by secret ballot of Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA). Transitional Authority has an 18-month mandate to hold a nationwide Loya Jirga to adopt a constitution and a 24-month mandate to hold nationwide elections. In December 2002, TISA marked one-year anniversary of fall of Taliban. In addition to occasionally violent political jockeying and ongoing military action to root out remaining terrorists and Taliban elements, country suffers from enormous poverty, a crumbling infrastructure, and widespread land mines.

limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution

conventional long form: Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local short form: Afghanestan
former: Republic of Afghanistan
local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan

Bonn Agreement called for a Loya Jirga (Grand Council) to be convened within 18 months of establishment of Transitional Authority to draft a new constitution for country; basis for next constitution is 1964 Constitution, according to Bonn Agreement

Legal system:

Bonn Agreement calls for a judicial commission to rebuild justice system in accordance with Islamic principles, international standards, rule of law, and Afghan legal traditions

Suffrage:

NA; previously males 15-50 years of age

Executive branch:

note: following Taliban's refusal to hand over Usama bin LADIN to US for his suspected involvement in 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in US, a US-led international coalition previously formed; after several weeks of aerial bombardment by coalition forces and military action on ground, includes Afghan opposition forces, Taliban previously ousted from power on 17 November 2001; in December 2001, a number of prominent Afghans met under UN auspices in Bonn, Germany, to decide on a plan for governing country; as a result, Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) - made up of 30 members, headed by a chairman - previously inaugurated on 22 December 2001 with a six-month mandate to be followed by a two-year Transitional Authority (TA), after which elections are to be held; structure of follow-on TA previously announced on 10 June 2002, when Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) convened establishing Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA), which has 18 months to hold a Loya Jirga to adopt a constitution and 24 months to hold nationwide elections
chief of state: President of TISA, Hamid KARZAI (since 10 June 2002); note - presently president and head of government
head of government: President of TISA, Hamid KARZAI (since 10 June 2002); note - presently president and head of government
cabinet: 30-member TISA
elections: nationwide elections are to be held by June 2004, according to Bonn Agreement

Legislative branch:

nonfunctioning as of June 1993

Judicial branch:

Bonn Agreement called for establishment of a Supreme Court; there is also a Minister of Justice

Political parties and leaders:

NA; note - political parties in Afghanistan are in flux and many prominent players have plans to create new parties; Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA) is headed by President Hamid KARZAI; TISA is a coalition government formed of leaders from across Afghan political spectrum; there are also several political factions not holding positions in Transitional government that are forming new groups and parties in hopes of participating in 2004 elections

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA; note - ministries formed under Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA) include former influential Afghans, diaspora members, and former political leaders

three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and green, with a gold emblem centered on red band; emblem features a temple-like structure encircled by a wreath on left and right and by a bold Islamic inscription above

Economy

Afghanistan

Economy - overview:

Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly dependent on foreign aid, farming and livestock raising (sheep and goats), and trade with neighboring countries. Economic considerations have played second fiddle to political and military upheavals during more than two decades of war, includes nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). During that conflict, one-third of population fled country, with Pakistan and Iran sheltering a combined peak of 4 to 6 million refugees. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over past 20 years because of loss of labor and capital and disruption of trade and transport; severe drought added to nation's difficulties in 1998-2002. majority of population continues to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and medical care, and a dearth of jobs, problems exacerbated by political uncertainties and general level of lawlessness. International efforts to rebuild Afghanistan were addressed at Tokyo Donors Conference for Afghan Reconstruction in January 2002, when $4.5 billion previously pledged, $1.7 billion for 2002. Of that approximately $900 million previously directed to humanitarian aid - food, clothing, and shelter - and another $90 million for Afghan Transitional Authority. Further World Bank and other aid came in 2003. Priority areas for reconstruction include upgrading education, health, and sanitation facilities; providing income generating opportunities; enhancing administrative and security arrangements, especially in regional areas; developing agricultural sector; rebuilding transportation, energy, and telecommunication infrastructure; and reabsorbing 2 million returning refugees. replacement of opium trade - which may account for one-third of GDP - and search for oil and gas resources in northern region are two major long-term issues.

international pledges made by more than 60 countries and international financial institutions at Tokyo Donors Conference for Afghan reconstruction in January 2002 reached $4.5 billion through 2006, with $1.8 billion allocated for 2002; another $1.7 billion previously pledged for 2003.

at least 10 (one government-run central television station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of 32 provinces; regional stations operate on a reduced schedule; also, in 1997, there previously a station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four northern Afghanistan provinces) (1998)

NA; note - December 2001 Bonn Agreement called for all militia forces to come under authority of central government, but regional leaders have continued to retain their militias and formation of a nation army will be a gradual process; Afghanistan's forces continue to be factionalized, largely along ethnic lines

Military manpower - military age:

22 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:

males age 15-49: 7,160,603 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:

males age 15-49: 3,837,646 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:

males: 275,223 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$525.2 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

7.7% (FY02)

Transnational Issues

Afghanistan

Disputes - international:

thousands of Afghan refugees still reside in Iran and Pakistan; isolating terrain and close ties among Pashtuns in Pakistan make cross-border activities difficult to control; prolonged regional drought strains water-sharing arrangements for Amu Darya and Helmand River states

Illicit drugs:

world's largest producer of opium; cultivation of opium poppy - used to make heroin - expanded to 30,750 hectares in 2002, despite eradication; potential opium production of 1,278 metric tons; source of hashish; many narcotics-processing labs throughout country; drug trade source of instability and some government groups profit from trade; 80-90% of heroin consumed in Europe comes from Afghan opium; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through hawala system